By Samson Ike, Abuja

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called for the arrest and prosecution of police officers who allegedly tear-gassed pensioners during a protest at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Lagos, on Monday. The retirees were demanding payment of outstanding pension adjustments, consequential increases and wage awards.

The protest came amid a prolonged dispute between retired Lagos public servants and the state government over unpaid pension increases and other benefits. The intervention by the police dispersed the protesters, although the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme, Michael Omisande, said several hundred retirees participated in the demonstration.

Falana, in a statement on Monday, condemned the police action, arguing that the pensioners were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. He cited the 2008 Court of Appeal judgment in Inspector General of Police v All Nigerian People Party, which affirmed the right of Nigerians to organise rallies and demonstrations without obtaining a police permit. He also cited Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020, which requires the police to provide security for peaceful gatherings.

Describing the disruption as a violation of the protesters’ rights, Falana urged the Inspector-General of Police to identify, arrest and prosecute the officers responsible. He argued that the use of force against the retirees had no legal justification and constituted a breach of provisions protecting the right to peaceful protest.

Omisande said the protest achieved its immediate objective despite the disruption, adding that representatives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police later met with the pensioners and apologised for the incident. He also said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was away from Lagos, sent his Chief of Staff to meet with the retirees. The pensioners were subsequently asked to return to Alausa on Thursday for a meeting with the governor over their outstanding demands.

Meanwhile, the National Pension Commission has begun discussions with the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission to address concerns over delayed pension increases and wage awards for retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme. PenCom said the implementation of pension enhancements involves determining eligibility, calculating applicable increases and actuarial liabilities, identifying funding requirements, and providing relevant data and instructions to Pension Fund Administrators. The commission said it would continue working with the state government, LASPEC, PFAs and pensioners’ representatives towards a transparent and sustainable resolution, but did not give a timeline for when the outstanding adjustments would be paid.